The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1887-11-04
Friday, Nov. 4, 1857.
That Faar Pas.

n, y
got up little club to play at politics,
which flowed placidly along as lit
tie brook through green meadow
amid the summers glow, with no I'M
pleasant incident TO break its gentle
murmur, till the political autumn
equinox approached with its darken-
ing storms and tempestuous party pas
sions. The politicians who have grown
out of the croquet period of politics,
and who make their appearance with
he early frosts prepared to utilize the
young club for the fall canvass, and
persuading it 20 change its fatigue dress
for the battle field uniform, provided 1T
with appropriate colors and equipments
for campaign club, in the form of a
pledge, which sinking all individual
ity, independence of thought, judgment
choice and action, bound the members
to vote for the ticket dedicated in due
political form Republican" without
question. mot theirs to reason why"
On Friday last there came violent
collision between this military discl-
pline and the untrammeled ideas o.
American freedom. A couple of can
didates with few friends of the same
political creed visited the young club
When the routine ceremony had pro-
ceeded to the reading of the "pledge,
the audience were informed that all
who did not subscribe to that should
retire, and retire they did, several in a
towering passion, declaring that such
treatment was little short of the guest
being kicked out by the host after be-
ing invited to share his Inequalities.
Now this little incident is scarcely
worth noticing in itself, but it under
lies great political principle, and
cor tains moral of immense import.
A political association in this free and
independent country implies an asso-
citation of citizens Joined together for
mutual instruction and the collection
and dissemination of information on
questions of political economy. An eff
fort to the better understanding of
questions which are pressing on the
political and social world for recogni-
milton and which neither party have
taken firm hold of. A club or politi-
cal association formed for this purp ose
repels in place of requires, pledge in
which members sink their manhood,
and become mere machines, unthink.
ing tools for the use of boss. 1t Is
said that there are clubs of this latter
class in the city of Baltimore, and we
doubt not in other cities too, whose
sole purpose is to devise and perfect
means to stuff ballot boxes and other
methods to defeat the will of the ma
jority Every oath bound association,
or what is virtually the same, pledge
which destroys the freedom, independ-
enee and manhood of the members, is
a whitening curse to popular govern :
ment. because its teaching and tend.
encies are pernicious and slavish. This
false teaching:is exemplified Tin the
following paragraph clipped from the
letter of the Rising Sun correspondent
In the last issue of the WING. In ex'
horting sticking to the party the writ
er says: -s5--
"What do you owe the Democratic
party? What favor do you expect2
You will receive no favor at their
hands. Then why desert your party!
You owe your vote and your influence
to these gentlemen who have sacrific-
d their time and business interest to
attain the result SO ardently hoped for
Upon the success of the ticket this fall
may depend to great extent the al
leglance to the party OF the Young Re
publicans. After such hopeful pros
poets, defeat will cause many to deser
to the other side. 1t is human natur'
to be on the popular side, and tn
young men of this county are not ex
empt from that feeling"
Let US change the phraseology ant
see how it reads. or rather feels how
reads. "What do you owe the Rspubt
can party? What favor do you expect?
No man should be under obligation t
any party. He owes all his efforts I
the public good. Is his incentive t.
vote or affiliate with a party ever meI
cenaryp Is he always to "expect
some personal reward? "You owe you
vote and your influence to these gen
,lemen who have sacrificed their tim
and business interests to attain the re
suit so ardently hoped for" Wha
gentlemen have sacrificed time an,
business interestsp" ano what "resul
SO ardently hoped forr We know
no gentlemen in either party that hay
placed the citizen under obligation t
vote for him, on account of sacrifices
And what is the hoped for object 10
which these hypothetical sacrifice
have been NADER Simply that the!